Most small businesses have no idea how much they're spending on software every month.
They signed up for a free trial that became a paid plan. They bought a tool for a project that finished. They're paying for three tools that do the same thing. According to Zylo's SaaS Management Index, 49% of SaaS licences go unused and the average business runs 7.6 duplicate apps simultaneously.
That's not a technology problem. That's a money problem.
What is a software subscription audit?
A software subscription audit is the process of reviewing every tool you pay for monthly or annually, identifying what you actually use, what overlaps with something else, and what can be cancelled or replaced with a cheaper alternative.
For most small businesses, a proper audit takes less than an hour and finds hundreds of pounds in annual savings.
Why small businesses overpay for software
Free trials that roll into paid plans. You sign up, forget to cancel, and suddenly you're paying £30 a month for something you used twice.
Duplicate tools. It's surprisingly common to pay for both Xero and QuickBooks, both Slack and Microsoft Teams, both Dropbox and Google Drive. Each one seems small — together they add up fast.
Legacy subscriptions. Tools you bought for a project two years ago, still quietly charging your card every month.
Premium tiers you don't need. Paying for the £45/month plan when the £12/month plan covers everything you actually use.
How to audit your software subscriptions
Step 1 — List everything you pay for. Check your bank statement for recurring charges. List every tool with its monthly cost.
Step 2 — Identify duplicates and overlaps. Group your tools by function. Accounting, communication, storage, project management. If you have more than one tool in any category, you likely have overlap.
Step 3 — Check what you actually use. For each tool, ask: when did someone last use this? If the answer is months ago — that's a cancellation candidate.
Step 4 — Replace expensive tools with cheaper alternatives. Adobe Creative Cloud at £55/month can often be replaced with Canva Pro at £12/month. Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace together — you only need one.
Step 5 — Cancel and save. For each tool you're cutting, go to Settings then Billing and cancel before the next renewal date.
How much could you save?
A business spending £300/month typically finds £80-120/month in savings. A business spending £500/month typically finds £150-200/month in savings. That's £1,000-3,600 per year going back into the business.
The faster way
SaaS Auditor Pro does it for you in 30 seconds. Paste your subscriptions, the AI identifies every duplicate and overpriced tool, then gives you a clear cut list — what to keep, what to cancel. No bank connection. No account required. Free savings snapshot available now.